Bag frame fastener structure



G. s. MERK 2,055,238

lSept. 2 2, 1936.

BAG FRAME RASTENER STRUCTURE Filed Nov, l, 1933 Patented- Sept. 22', 1936 Param OFFICE j BAG FRAME FAS'IIHENERY STRUCTURE .Y George S. Merk, Flushing,` N. Y., assigncrto `United-Carr Company, Inc.,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Brooklyn,

Application November 1, Serial No. ($96,191 I 2 claims. (01;-292-128) My invention aims to provide improvements in fasteners for bag frames and the like.

In the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my inventionzl Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bag frame and my improved fastening means prior to attachment of the bag material to the frame structure;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line d-d of Fig. 3, showing only the catch member of the fastener and a portion of the frame that carries the catch member;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is an under side plan view of the latch member only.

My invention, as illustrated by the annexed drawing, is particularly, though not exclusively, directed to improved fastening means for use in combination with so-called inverted frame structures of ladys handbags. The particular fastening means illustrated is of the latch type particularly constructed for use with frame structures of U-shaped cross-section which open outwardly.

The particular structure illustrated (Figs. 1 and 2) includes a pair of U-shaped frame members I and 2 secured together at their free ends in hinged relation so that they may move toward and away from each other in the usual manner. It is, of course, desirable to secure the frame memlbers in side-by-side relation and, therefore, I

have provided an improved latch fastening means for that purpose.

The fastening means includes a catch member having an attaching portion 3 which may be of any desired shape and secured within the frame member 2 in any suitable manner. The structure illustrated, however, has an attaching portion 3 which fits the bottom of the frame memberZ and has lingers il-ll passing through apertures 5 5 in the bottom (Fig. 4) and clenched against the under side thereof, as clearly illustrated. A portion of the attaching portion extends upwardly for a part of the distance of the height of the outer wall of the frame member 2, while another portion eX- tends upwardly the entire length of the inner wall of the frame 2 and beyond the edge thereof to provide a projection 6 suitably shaped to form a catch-piece. The other member of the fastening means is in the nature of a latch bolt pivotally attached to the frame member I in any suitable manner. However, the latch structure selected Vfor ,illustration includes Vabox-like part `l open -at vthe-under side and having a wall 8 adapted to make fastening engagement with the-catchpiecev 6as best illustrated in Fig.;3.v Within the ,box-likemember 'l I have secured, as, bysoldering, a part 9 which presents a hinge portion l0 extending out from the box-like member and connected within the frame member I to a cooperating hinge member II secured within the frame member I. IIhe two hinge members are secured together by a hinge pin I2 (Figs. 3 and 4l) which acts as a pivot to permit rocking movement of the latch bolt. In order to normally maintain the latch bolt in a position where the wall 8 will engage the projection 5 when the frame members I and 2 are in side-by-side contact, I have provided a new, improved, simple spring structure which comprises one or more relatively thin, small platelike members I3. The spring or spring plates I3 have their lowermost portions tted into a pocket I4 (Figs. 3 and 4) formed between the hinge member II and the inner wall of the frame member I. The upper end of the spring members extend beyond the inner wall of the frame member I and engage the projections I5-I5 (Figs. 3 and 6) formed from the part 9. An ear i6 extends from the part 9 in spaced relation to the projections I5 in order to back-support the upper ends of the spring when the latch bolt is lifted. With the arrangement of parts of the fastener structure described the frame members I and 2 may be secured in side-by-side relation from an open position by merely pressing them toward each other. During the pressing operation the wall 8 contacts with the projection 6 and is cammed upwardly in an arc about the hinged connection so that the wall will ride over the upper edge of the projection 6. During this operation the at spring or spring plates I3 are flexed and, therefore, after the wall 8 passes over the upper edge of the projection 6 it is moved downwardly by the pressure of the spring plate or plates I3 into locking engagement with the projection 5. In order to unlatch the fastening means, the latch bolt member must be rocked about the hinged connection against the pressure of the spring plate or plates I3. To this end I have attached one or more ornaments such, for instance, as the two ball-like members l'l-I'l which provide convenient elements to be grasped by the fingers of the operator for convenient operation of the latch member during the unlocking operation.

An important feature of my invention is the type and location of the spring plate or plates I3. This spring structure is simple, durable,

easy to assemble and disassemble and much more While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not Wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Fastening means for use with a frame structure having two U-shaped parts movable toward and away from each other, comprising in combination, a catch-piece secured within one of the U-shaped parts and having a portion extending above the open side thereof, a xed hinge piece secured within the other U-shaped part and a catch-engaging portion extending laterally beyond the Walls of its frame part and into engagement with the catch-piece of the other frame part when the frames are in closed position, and hingedly connected to the hinge piece at a point below 'and spaced from the body of the catchengaging portion, a small plate-like spring means held in position relative to the frame part carrying the latch bolt and having the upper end thereof extending beyond the free end of the U- shaped frame and engaging the catch-engaging portion and normally holding it in catch-engaging position, whereby the frames are automatically latched as they are moved into closed position.

2. Fastening means for use with a frame structure having two U-shaped parts movable toward and away from each other, comprising in combination, a. catch-piece secured Within one of the U-shaped parts and having a portion extending over the open side thereof, a xed hinge piece rsecured within the other U-shaped part and a catch-engaging portion hingedly connected to the hinge piece and extending over the adjacent Walls of the frame parts into engagement with the catch-piece, a projection extending from the catch-engaging portion and a small plate-like spring held in position between the upright Wall of the U-shaped part carrying the latch bolt and the hinge piece and having its free end bearing against said projection, thereby normally pressing the latch member into catch-engaging position.

GEORGE S. MERK. 

